Good IAQ benefits everyone

Managing indoor air quality (IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors.) systematically during construction is becoming more and more common as contractors gain more experience with LEED. It benefits the health of everyone who works on the site, not just the eventual occupants of the building.

Not a one-time thing

Earning this credit can be fairly easy, but it does require careful coordination and buy-in from all the subcontractors and field personnel involved in the project. It’s important to remember that IAQ management is not a one-time compliance event that can be checked off a list—it must be an ongoing effort for the duration of the construction process.

The contractor should create the IAQ management plan before construction even begins, and check on compliance at various times throughout the process—including collecting photos on a minimum of three separate dates for credit documentation.

SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. guidelines call for measures like wrapping ductwork to prevent dust from entering it during construction. (The commissioning process is supposed to catch poorly coordinated practices like the meeting of the sprinklers and ductwork here.) Photo – YRG Sustainability

SMACNA guidelines call for measures like wrapping ductwork to prevent dust from entering it during construction. (The commissioning process is supposed to catch poorly coordinated practices like the meeting of the sprinklers and ductwork here.) Photo – YRG Sustainability

Know the standard

LEED requires you follow the SMACNA 2007 guidelines. (See Resources.) Chapter 3 of the guide describes Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management. The standard was updated in 2008, but is virtually identical to the older version referenced in earlier versions of the LEED rating system. Note that although the SMACNA guidelines say they are for "occupied buildings under construction," these guidelines must be used by all LEED projects attempting this credit—occupied or not.

The SMACNA 2007 document describes common sources for construction indoor air pollution and offers best practices to address them. When developing the IAQ Management Plan, the contractor should incorporate all of the recommended guidelines that are applicable to the project.

The following are the major areas covered by SMACNA.

HVAC Protection: Make sure that dust and construction debris do not accumulate in HVAC ducts. Strategies include wrapping HVAC ducts in plastic and storing ductwork in dust free areas before installing.

Source Control: Address the sources of construction pollution and looking for ways to reduce them. Strategies include using low-VOCA volatile organic compound (VOC) is a carbon compound that vaporizes (becomes a gas) at normal room temperatures. VOCs contribute to air pollution directly and through atmospheric photochemical reactions (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and ammonium carbonate) to produce secondary air pollutants, principally ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate. materials, paints, coatings, adhesives, sealantsA sealant has adhesive properties and is formulated primarily to fill, seal, or waterproof gaps or joints between 2 surfaces. Sealants include sealant primers and caulks. (SCAQMD Rule 1168. )Sealants are used on wood, fabric, paper, corrugated paperboard, plastic foam and other materials with tiny openings, often microscopic, that may absorb or discharge gas or fluid. (as covered in IEQc4.1–4.4); exhausting gas-fueled construction equipment directly to the outside; and storing VOC-containing materials away from absorptive materials.

Pathway Interruption: Use negative pressure and or temporary hanging plastic to contain areas that may generate construction dust, for example, wood-cutting and drywall-cutting areas.

Housekeeping: Keep a clean work site by sweeping, wet mopping and using low-VOC cleaners.

Scheduling: Coordinate the movement of occupants to minimize their exposure to construction debris; schedule installation of absorptive materials to limit the materials’ exposure to VOCs and moisture.

HVAC components that are poorly protected from dust and construction debris, as in this photo, can cause equipment malfunctions and poor IAQ during occupancy.

HVAC components that are poorly protected from dust and construction debris, as in this photo, can cause equpiment malfunctions and poor IAQ during occupancy.

More than just SMACNA

In addition to the SMACNA requirements your project will be required to protect absorptive material from moisture through proper scheduling and storage. This includes drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles, and any other absorptive materials. Take pictures of this for documentation.

If HVAC equipment will be used during construction, you will need to install MERV 8 filters before operating them and replace them before the building is occupied.

Filter standards for international projects

International projects can follow international filter standards if using HVAC equipment during construction:

Europe: Class F5 (defined by CEN Standard EN 779-2002)

East Asia: Medium Efficiency or High Efficiency (defined by Chinese Standard GB/T 14295-2008)

For all international projects: Minimum dust stop efficiency of 30% and arrestance of 90% for particles between 3–10 picograms

All other applicable SMACNA guidelines should be incorporated into the IAQ Management Plan.

Legend

Best Practices

Gotcha

Action Steps

Cost Tip

Construction Documents

This credit relies heavily on SMACNA’s best-practice management guide that addresses construction IAQ management in five areas: HVAC protection, source control, pathway interruption, housekeeping, and scheduling. (See Resources.) Develop the project IAQ plan for use throughout construction. You can use the customizable IAQ plan provided by LEEDuser—see the Documentation Toolkit.

With all of the SMACNA guidelines, there is a right way to do it—and then there are the other ways, like this poorly covered ductwork. Do it right, and document it with photos. Photo – YRG SustainabilityYour project IAQ plan must address all five areas of the SMACNA guide, protection of absorptive materials, and use of MERV 8 filters (if applicable). Although you’re not required to employ every SMACNA guideline, it's a good idea to implement as many of the guidelines as possible unless you can reasonably justify not doing so. Projects that implement only a few SMACNA guidelines run the risk of having the credit rejected during LEED review. For example, it would be a red flag if your HVAC units arrived from the manufacturer wrapped in plastic, but you didn’t cover open-ended ducts to protect them once they were installed, or didn’t have any photos to back up the claim that ducts arrived wrapped.

The owner and design team need to ensure that IAQ guidelines, such as an IAQ plan, HVAC protection, source control, pathway interruption, housekeeping, and scheduling, have been integrated into the construction specifications.

Masterspec offers sample LEED specifications for construction documents. It includes an entire section specific to IAQ management. (See Resources.) The contractor also needs to protect absorptive material from moisture. This is for both installed and stored absorptive materials, like drywall, carpet, and ceiling tiles. You should also take pictures of this for documentation. If HVAC equipment will be used during construction, you will need to install MERV 8 filters and replace them before the building is occupied.

Construction specifications can include IAQ-related items such as procedures to follow, a sample IAQ plan, and VOC limits on materials related to IEQc4: Low-Emitting Materials, no-smoking policies, the request to use dustless equipment, a request to have ductwork arrive pre-wrapped, and more.

Some contractors may charge a premium for implementing and documenting this credit, but in general, added costs should be minor as more firms start incorporating these as standard best practices.

Hiring construction teams with LEED experience is helpful, as is reviewing LEED requirements and responsibilities with the contractor during the bidding process.

Accountability is key to successfully implementing an IAQ plan. Ensure that subcontractors are required implement their parts of the IAQ plan, and to get specific processes and materials approved.

Construction

Preparation Before Construction Begins

The general contractor (GC) should go over all LEED-specific issues—including IAQ management, the role of low-emitting materials, environmental materials tracking tools, construction waste management, and more—at an orientation meeting.

It’s a good idea for the GC to meet with subcontractors to reinforce the LEED responsibilities related specifically to their trades. This exercise helps to build trust and is crucial for obtaining buy-in from all participants in the process.

Enabling coordination and communication among the GC, subcontractors, and the design team early in the process can minimize scheduling delays and pushback from subcontractors.

The GC distributes the Indoor Air Quality plan outlining procedures and best practices to be distributed to subcontractors prior to the construction phase. The plan should clearly identify who is responsible for implementing each component of the plan—for example, “Wrapping installed open-ended HVAC ductwork is the responsibility of the mechanical contractor,” and “Quality control is the responsibility of the general contractor.”

Develop a checklist for weekly activities that lists SMACNA guidelines, protection of absorptive material, and use of MERV 8 filters along with related to-do items, such as taking photographs to document the IAQ strategies. It’s a convenient way to stay on top of required tasks, and the checklist can be used at weekly meetings and posted around the site. See the Documentation Toolkit for a sample checklist.

During Construction

The contractor and subs should ensure that SMACNA practices are being followed. Each of the five major SMACNA areas is addressed in detail below.

Decide whether HVAC units will be used during construction. If so, ensure that MERV 8 filters have been purchased and are used throughout the site. Remember that any filters used during construction must be replaced prior to occupancy.

Post copies of the IAQ plan in various places around the construction site to ensure that the plan is being followed. Hang signs that remind subcontractors to follow IAQ practices such as covering exposed ductwork with plastic, wet mopping regularly, and using low-VOC products and other SMACNA practices. See the Documentation Toolkit for sample signage.

Assign an IAQ manager to assist the GC. This person can run spot-checks for SMACNA and other best-practice compliance.

HVAC Protection

Follow SMACNA strategies for HVAC protection that are appropriate to your project. These include items such as the following:

This ductwork was ordered wrapped, and was stored away from construction work until installation. Photo – YRG Sustainabilitywrapping ductwork and or ventilation equipment in plastic once it arrives on site;

ordering ductwork pre-wrapped in plastic before it is delivered to the site;

placing ductwork or ventilation equipment in a room away from construction work to protect it from dust until it is installed and covered;

covering exposed grilles with plastic once ductwork is installed;

and laying plastic over underfloor air systems to keep out construction debris.

Ordering ductwork pre-wrapped in plastic or having open grilles sealed once installed may add slightly to costs, but pre-wrapped ductwork, for example, makes HVAC protection easy to achieve.

Housekeeping

Follow SMACNA strategies for source control that are appropriate to your project. These include items such as the following.

For construction materials storage, do not use This project used low-emitting paints, sealants, and adhesives, and stored them in a closet to protect air quality. Photo – YRG Sustainabilitymechanical rooms or air-mixing rooms as many products give off gases that can be absorbed by other materials or could be distributed to other areas through the ventilation system.

Combustion-based construction equipment used in the interior of a building should be exhausted directly to the outside. Long-snake exhaust pipes can be attached to this type of equipment for easy exhausting out of windows.

When combustion-based, stand-alone heating units are used for supplemental heating during construction, it may be best to keep the heating units outdoors to exhaust and pump the heat to the indoors.

It is a good idea for the GC to set up a supervisory mechanism, such as designating an IAQ manager to run quality control checks and to ensure that the proper products and procedures are being used.

The IAQ management plan should specifically state who is responsible for ensuring that low-VOC materials are used onsite, and the GC should verify that the products and procedures being used by each subcontractor are in compliance.

Follow SMACNA strategies for pathway interruption that are appropriate to your project. These include items such as the following:

The base-building elevator shafts were sealed on this project to prevent movement of dust. Photo – YRG SustainabilityTemporary barriers and self-contained dustless apparatus, such as concrete grinders and drywall sanders, can be helpful to isolate and protect finished construction areas from areas that are still under construction. Isolate construction dust produced by activities like cutting drywall or wood.

Separate construction zones from occupied zones.

Contain construction air pollution by exhausting air to create negative pressure in construction areas.

Plastic barriers are the most inexpensive, but drywall or cloth partitions can be used as well.

Follow SMACNA strategies for housekeeping that are appropriate to your project. These include items such as the following:

These practices may be slightly time-consuming, but will help to create a healthier working environment for all the construction workers onsite on a daily basis. Communicating this point frequently to everyone on the site can help to build compliance.

Scheduling

Carefully schedule construction and any necessary occupant moves in a manner that reduces occupant exposure to construction pollution.

Carefully examine the sequencing of material installation before construction begins. Schedule installation to protect absorptive materials from construction pollution. For example, do not store or install acoustic ceiling tiles before painting occurs or flooring products are installed because the ceiling tiles will absorb the off-gassing paint or floor adhesives and will contaminate the air over a longer time period. This could also compromise the project’s ability to attain IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Management Plan—Before Occupancy.

Scheduling is a no-cost measure but needs to be coordinated before construction begins.

Wrap-Up and Documentation

Take photos throughout the construction process to demonstrate that your IAQ plan has been followed. There is no specific number of photos required, but they must be taken at two or more different stages of the project. For reference, prior to 2009 this credit required at least 16 photos—see the Documentation Toolkit for examples.

All five SMACNA control measures have to be documented in a photo log. It is easy to take pictures of covered ducts, but don’t forget to also take photos of more process-oriented strategies such as housekeeping and pathway interruption. The pictures should clearly show all the control measures adopted during construction. Photos should be submitted with a brief description, the time and date, and an indication of what SMACNA practice is demonstrated.

These MERV 8 filters were installed prior to initial system start-up, and replaced prior to occupancy. Photo – YRG SustainabilityIf the building’s air handlers are used, replace all filters (MERV 8) required during construction with new filters—after construction and before occupants move into the space.

Replace construction filters with MERV 13 filters if the project is also attempting to earn credit for IEQc5: Indoor Environmental Pollutant Source Control.

It is usually a good idea to do a “mini air flush” (if your project is not attempting IEQc3.2) before occupancy to help remove any lingering VOCs from the construction process. This can be as simple as putting industrial sized fans in the window and pumping in fresh air overnight or running the HVAC exhaust on high for a few days. (See IEQc3.2: Construction Indoor Air Quality Plan—Before Occupancy if the team wants to do a full flush-out for an additional LEED point.)

Fill out the LEED Online form and upload the IAQ plan, photos with SMACNA descriptions, and cut sheets of MERV filters used onsite during construction, if air handlers were used.

Alternatives to installing MERV 8 filters include not using the building HVAC units, bringing in a stand-alone temporary system, or using natural ventilation.

1 Point

Intent

To reduce indoor air quality (IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors.) problems resulting from construction or renovation and promote the comfort and well-being of construction workers and building occupants.

Requirements

Develop and implement an IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. management plan for the construction and preoccupancy phases of the building as follows:

During construction, meet or exceed the recommended control measures of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.) IAQ Guidelines For Occupied Buildings Under Construction, 2nd Edition 2007, ANSI/ SMACNA 008-2008 (Chapter 3).

If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration media must be used at each return air grille that meets one of the following criteria below. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy.

Filtration media with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERVMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. ) of 8 as determined by ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 (with errata but without addenda1)

Filtration media is Class F5 or higher, as defined by CEN Standard EN 779-2002, Particulate air filters for general ventilation, Determination of the filtration performance

Credit substitution available

Potential Technologies & Strategies

Adopt an IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. management plan to protect the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system during construction, control pollutant sources and interrupt contamination pathways. Sequence the installation of materials to avoid contamination of absorptive materials, such as insulation, carpeting, ceiling tile and gypsum wallboard. Coordinate with IEQ Credit 3.2: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan — Before Occupancy and IEQ Credit 5: Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control to determine the appropriate specifications and schedules for filtration media.

If possible, avoid using permanently installed air handlers for temporary heating/cooling during construction. Consult the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009 Edition for more detailed information on how to ensure the well-being of construction workers and building occupants if permanently installed air handlers must be used during construction.

Technical Guides

This updated version of the spreadsheet categories dozens of specific space types according to how they should be applied under various IEQ credits. This document is essential if you have questions about how various unique space types should be treated. Up to date, 2nd Edition.

This spreadsheet categories dozens of specific space types according to how they should be applied under various IEQ credits. This document is essential if you have questions about how various unique space types should be treated. This is the 1st edition.

Publications

This report, released in July 2005, covers the significant health effects caused by indoor air pollution, including respiratory illness and disease, asthma attacks, cancer, and premature death. The report describes the health effects, sources, and concentrations of indoor air pollutants; existing regulations, guidelines, and practices for indoor air pollution; and ways to prevent and reduce indoor air pollution.

This standard was the first state-initiated program to ensure the design of buildings with acceptable IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors..

Organizations

SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. is an international organization that developed guidelines for maintaining healthful indoor air quality during demolitions, renovations, and construction. The professional trade association publishes the referenced standard as well as Indoor Air Quality: A Systems Approach, a comprehensive document that covers air pollutant sources, control measures, IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. process management, quality control and documentation, interpersonal communication , sample projects, tables, references, resources, and checklists.

Masterspec offers guidance on how to write LEED specifications into construction documents. It includes an entire section specific to IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. management.

Construction IAQ Management Plan

The Indoor Air Quality Management Plan outlines procedures and best practices covering all five areas of SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. guidelines. Shown here is a template formatted with the sections the IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. plan should cover and giving guidance on how to customize the template to develop your own IAQ plan. Also shown here is a sample IAQ plan from a Harvard University project.

Templates

Samples

Weekly IAQ Checklist

A checklist like this can be used at regular meetings between the GCA General Contractor (GC) manages, coordinates, and oversees building construction; may perform some construction tasks; and is responsible for hiring and managing subcontractors. and subcontractors to ensure that IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. management plan measures are being followed.

Templates

Samples

IAQ Photo Documentation

All five SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. control measures have to be documented in a photo log. It is easy to take pictures of covered ducts, but don’t forget to also take photos of more process-oriented strategies such as housekeeping and pathway interruption. The pictures should clearly show all the control measures adopted during construction. Photos should be submitted with a brief description, the time and date, and an indication of what SMACNA practice is demonstrated.

Samples

Jobsite Signage

Use jobsite signage like this sample to remind contractors of SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. requirements for this credit.

I don't think it is addressed in the SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. reference standard. The main concern is source control of any contaminants. If you can show that emissions are contained, or exhausted directly to the outside, you can make a justification for propane-powered lifts.

Filtration Media Documentation Table

The table in the form asks for the Location of th AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition)
2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork., not the location that the temporary filter is installed. Do we have to list each filter used at each return grill, or just each AHU and the type of filter used?
I have a project where the GCA General Contractor (GC) manages, coordinates, and oversees building construction; may perform some construction tasks; and is responsible for hiring and managing subcontractors. listed just one filter per AHU, but he also listed a replacement filter MERVMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. of 8, so I believe he listed the wrong filters. Each of our units has a return air filter at the unit, but this does not protect the return ducts from construction dust.

You are correct, per the language of the credit:
"If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration media with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERVMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. ) of 8 must be used at each return air grille."
Although the table in the LEED Online form may only ask for the location of the AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition)
2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork., in the IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. Management plan there should be verbiage about providing filtration media at each return air grille.

Smoking During Construction

Our project is a school located in Puerto Rico, where the tropical climate allows for natural ventilation and where we don't use the HVAC system during construction. We know the ETSEnvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or secondhand smoke, consists of airborne particles emitted from the burning end of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, and is exhaled by smokers. These particles contain about 4,000 compounds, up to 50 of which are known to cause cancer. (IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. credit P2) requirement does not talk about smoking control during construction, and we know it would be good practice not to smoke during construction. However, we are having a hard time having the contractor and the workers not smoke on site, which is what we wanted ideally, and unfortunately, the majority of the construction workers and engineers here in Puerto Rico smoke quite a lot. Does anyone know if there is somewhere where I can find more details of the smoking area on the construction site, aside from what the credit says of prohibiting smoking inside the building and within 25 feet away from doors, windows, intakes, storage of absoptive materials, once the building is enclosed?

I don't see anywhere in IEQp2 or IEQc3.1 where it mentions smoking during construction. It doesn't look like LEED will punish you (there aren't LEED police anyway).
It sounds like you are trying to do the right thing. Hopefully the building flush out will help take care of any smoke residue. Refer to IEQp2 for more information.

Keelan KaiserArchitect and EducatorSerena Sturm Architects and Judson University

Jun 09 2011

Guest

1398 Thumbs Up

temporary use of hvac during construction

I have another question similar to above. We have a project that is substantially complete with construction, the cleaning crews are in right now. Only flooring remains to be installed. The concrete floors have a moisture content that is too high and the contractor is asking if he can run the hvac to dehumidify the spaces and get the moisture content to acceptable limits for final flooring installation. Can we approve this as long as the MervMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. 8 filters are used at the return air intakes? Do we interpret this rule correctly for this instance? Thanks!

And a more subtle question, the contractor is considering "occupancy" the end of construction. The local municipality is awarding occupancy without having completed installation of the flooring (rubber flooring, stained concrete and carpet). They are suggesting that construction is completed and they can run the hvac without filtering and not violate the intent because construction dust is over. But the intent includes all airborne elements right, the intent of this credit is to prevent all elements entering the return air ducts, including anything related to the installation of flooring, is this correct? I know the answer, just looking for confirmation. Thanks.

Using temporary air handling units

Our project developed and implemented a Construction IAQ Management PlanA construction IAQ management plan outlines measures to minimize contamination in a specific project building during construction and describes procedures to flush the building of contaminants prior to occupancy. that followed the referenced SMACNAThe Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is an international association of union contractors, in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. Guidelines. The project documentation states that MERVMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. 8 filters were installed during construction when the permanent HVAC system was in use. A copy of the project's Construction IAQ Management Plan and photos highlighting the implemented IAQ measures have been provided. In our photo log we identified that temporary AHUs were used during construction to protect permanent HVAC systems.

The LEED construction reviewer is requesting documentation showing MERV 8 filters were used for the temporary AHUs used during construction, however, this is not a credit requirement. The credit requires MERV 8 filters be used to protect the permanent HVAC systems. There is no requirement in the LEED guidelines that states that the MERV 8 filters be used for temporary air handler units and the LEED manual suggests the use of temporary air handlers to protect the permanent HVAC systems.

The manual requirement for LEED for Schools 2007 states "If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration media with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 8 shall be used at each return air grille, as determined by ASHRAE 52.2-1999. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."

We started up our HVAC system at the end of construction and used the MERV 8 filters to comply with the credit requirements, however a few months earlier in the project we used temporary air handlers that are not part of the permanent HVAC system.

Is there a requirement for MERV 8 filters to be used during construction on the temporary AHU's when the permanent HVAC system is not in use?

Alison- you are correct, there is no requirement for any specific MERVMinimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating is an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) measurement scale which rates the effectiveness of air filters. for temporary heat. If I were in your shoes, I would politely point this out to the project reviewer in a narrative.

Can you follow-up on what happened to this particular credit? I find it strange whenever a LEED Reviewer asks something that is not in the credit requirement. Does anybody know, if we appeal/contest a credit and is granted, should we be refunded for the fee?

I have heard of appeal fees being waived in cases where the GBCIThe Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) manages Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certification and professional accreditation processes. It was established in 2008 with support from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). review team was really out of line. Good luck!